Apparatus, system, and method for reducing head or neck trauma

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for the reduction of head or neck trauma in a living being by mitigating the acceleration experienced by the head, relative to the torso, during a change in motion; for example, creating a neck support that provides improved extension, compression, rotation, and bending properties to the neck in order to control the acceleration experienced by the head. The apparatus can be configured to create a neck support in which acceleration of the head, relative to the torso, is reduced with minimal structure, discomfort, and other potential downsides to the user of the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for reducing trauma in the head or neck of a living being caused by acceleration of the head relative to a torso of the living being within a range of motion, the method comprising:
 engaging a support with at least one of the head, neck, and shoulder without limiting the range of motion of the head or neck relative to the torso; and 
 reducing the speed at which the head moves relative to the torso and increasing the time needed for the head to move through the range of motion using a physiological damper including at least one electrode associated with the support. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step is performed at least in part by the damper, which provides a lower resistance to the motion when the speed or acceleration of the head relative to the torso is lower and a higher resistance to the motion when the speed or acceleration of the head relative to the torso is higher, thereby reducing the acceleration of the head relative to the torso. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step includes stimulating a muscle of at least one of the head, neck, or shoulder. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step includes sensing a condition associated with the support. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein sensing includes sensing one or more of position, speed, acceleration, compression, rotation, bending, skin conduction, or cardiovascular physiological parameters associated with the support. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step includes the living being responding to a user interface in electrical communication with the support. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein responding includes viewing a graphical display. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step includes inhibiting contraction of one or more muscles while contracting one or more different muscles. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reducing step includes activating the electrode. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a condition associated with the support, and activating the electrode in response to the sensed condition. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein sensing includes sensing one or more of position, speed, acceleration, compression, rotation, bending, skin conduction, or cardiovascular physiological parameters associated with the support. 
     
     
       12. A method for reducing trauma in the head or neck of a living being caused by acceleration of the head relative to a torso of the living being within a range of motion, the method comprising:
 engaging a support with at least one of the head, neck, and shoulder without limiting the range of motion of the head or neck relative to the torso; and 
 strengthening the muscle of the living being as the head moves through the range of motion using a physiological damper including at least one electrode associated with the support. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening step includes stimulating a muscle of at least one of the head, neck, or shoulder. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using a mechanical damper or an electromechanical damper. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising increasing the range of motion of the head by increasing flexibility of the living being through extended duration or repeated movements of the head relative to the torso while the support is engaged. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening step includes inhibiting contraction of the muscle while contracting one or more different muscles. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening step is performed in response to sensing a parameter associated with the support. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein sensing a parameter includes sensing a position, speed, acceleration, compression, rotation, bending, skin conduction, or cardiovascular physiological parameter associated with the support. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening step is performed in response to signals transmitted by a user interface in electrical communication with the support. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface is a graphical display. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the strengthening step includes sending coordinated signals from the user interface to the support and to the living being to cause the action of the support to dampen or facilitate the movement of the living being as directed by the user interface. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the user interface directing the living being to perform movements or remain fixed against actions from the support. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 17 , the sensing step providing feedback to a user interface. 
     
     
       24. A method for reducing trauma in the head or neck of a living being caused by acceleration of the head relative to a torso of the living being within a range of motion, the method comprising:
 engaging a support with at least one of the head, neck, and shoulder without limiting the range of motion of the head or neck relative to the torso; and 
 increasing a muscle contraction speed of the living being as the head moves through the range of motion using a physiological damper including at least one electrode associated with the support. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the increasing step includes stimulating a muscle of at least one of the head, neck, or shoulder. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the increasing step is performed in response to sensing a position, speed, acceleration, compression, rotation, bending, skin conduction, or cardiovascular physiological parameters associated with the support. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the increasing step is performed in response to signals transmitted by a user interface in electrical communication with the support. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 24 , further increasing the range of motion of the head by increasing flexibility of a muscle of the living being through extended duration or repeated movements of the head relative to the torso while the support is engaged. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 24 , the increasing step including inhibiting contraction of one or more muscles while contracting one or more different muscles. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising increasing a speed of the living being's initiation of movement by repeated responses to communication from the user interface. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising communicating instructions to the living being using the user interface while simultaneously communicating signals to the support to vary a dampening effect. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , further comprising increasing a rate of reaction of the living being to the instructions of the user interface by repeated communication. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising increasing a flexibility of a muscle of the living being by repeated or extended duration responses to the user interface. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 24  further comprising increasing the range of motion of the head relative to the torso through dampening variations of the physiological damper. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the increasing step includes lowering a physiological electrical threshold of the muscle of the living being.